Amsterdam

The city in Netherlands is one of the popular destinations in Europe and I didn't want to miss it as well. Especially visiting the city in summer is a good option. Because then you have the chance to make a canal trip. Like in Venice!

The trip lasts from 1 hour till 24 hours... So the options are many. Here is a website to see the alternatives.

http://www.amsterdamcitytours.com/boat-tours.html?gclid=CIWci8L5lqcCFQaGDgodDiRPbQ

I liked the tour because you have the opportunity to see both the modern and the old parts of the city. You pass under the bridges or along the nice buildings which are somehow the symbols of Amsterdam. The canal houses...

The houses along the canals in Amsterdam...

And the boat takes you also through the harbour...

And sometimes you see interesting things during the trip. Here is a lady waiting for her "seaman".

And I found that restaurant also interesting. I don't know about the food but for its architecture at least it was nice. And no need to tell what kind of food they have. It is very clear...

Bicycle

Bicycles are maybe one the most used vehicles in Amsterdam. You see around so many bicycle park places.

So if the weather is good you can ride a bicycle as well and explore the each side of Amsterdam. For it you don't need the take your bicycles all the way with you of course. You can rent a bicycle in the city. For those who are interested here are some options:

http://www.amsterdam.info/transport/bike-rentals/

Museums

Like many European cities Amsterdam is also rich in terms of museums. The most important one is the Van Gogh Museum. It is located on Museumplein (Museum Quartier). To reach there you can take the trams number 2 or 5 in central station and go out in the Van Baerlesstraat stop. It is open daily between 10:00 and 18:00. But Fridays the museum is open till 22:00. You can stay longer. And the entrance fee is 14 euros. So those who like that crazy painter have the opportunity to see the famous pieces of him.

And another museum which is a great pleasure to visit for women... The diamond musuem!

There you have the opportunity to see how the diamonds are cut and also to shop... It is open daily between 09:00 and 17:00. The entrance fee is 7,5 euros. It is located in Paulus Potterstraat 8. Close to the Van Gogh Museum. Again you can take the trams number 2 and 5 to go there.

By the way if you have a museum card you can visit free. Here is the information about the museum card.

http://www.museumkaart.nl/

And another one is The Rijksmuseum...

The Rijksmuseum

Here you can see the paintings of the famous 17th century Dutch painters like Remrandt and Vermeer.

The Stedelijk Museum on the other hand houses the modern art pieces. Another museum I want to mention might be interesting for children. It is called NEMO. It is close to the central station and has a shape like a ship. It is the largest science center in Netherlands and there you can not just look but also touch and experiment. It is also possible to organize birthday parties for children there.

NEMO

NEMO is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00-17:00. The entrance fee is 12,5 euros. And eeveryone from 4 years old pays the same amount.

Another museum that should be mentioned is the Madame Tussauds. Yes, Amsterdam has also one Madame Tussauds. It is located in Dam Square. The entrance fee is 23 euros. I had found it a little bit much so didn't enter. But you know what it includes. Or?

I guess it is enough for museums. Of course there are many other museums but I didn't have time to visit all. But I can write the names... Maybe it is interesting for you and you want to visit: Amsterdam Historical Museum, Anne Frank House, Houseboat Museum, Tulip Museum, Electric Tram Line Museum, Vodka Museum, Coffee and Tee Museum, Film Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, Biblical Museum, Museum of Bags and Purses, Sex Museum, Torture Museum, Erotic Museum...

As you see Amsterdam is maybe one of the richest cities in terms of museums.

Tulip - Flower market

When I wrote about the Tulip Museum, it reminded me about another populer thing about the city: the tulips. If you want to buy some flowers or bulbs as a present you should visit the flower market. It is located on the Singel canal and open till 17:30.

It is also possible to sit in cafe in the flower market and have a nice breakfast or drink a coffee being surrounded by the nice smell of the flowers.

Albert Cuyp Market

It is also a popular outdoor market. There you can buy fresh food, clothes and so many other things. The prices are supposed to be the cheapest in Amsterdam. You can find it in the Pijp district.

Shopping

In Amsterdam there are many shopping streets. The busiest is the Kalverstraat. As you can guess Straat means Street... It is close to the central station. There you can find many shops selling almost everything you can imagine. The shopping malls Kalvertoren and Magna Plaza are also nearby. I met him at one of the side streets of the Kalverstraat.

If you like shopping in posh shops then you should visit the P.C. Hooftstraat. It is close to the museum quartier.

The other shopping streets are Utrechtsestraat, Beethovenstraat and Haarlemmerstraat.

Dam Square

Here is accepted as the centre of Amsterdam. The Royal Palace dominates the square. But I couldn't see any prince or princess that day.

Red Light District

Maybe it is the most famous part of the city. In the houses along the canals almost naked women wait for their customers. But I believe most of the people around were just watchers. And as a woman I didn't like seeing the women as such a commercial object there. But they are sometimes very courageous. They try even inviting the men who are there with their wives...

Of course there are just not such houses there. The bars or coffees around are abundant. By the way I can't show you any picture because it is not allowed. It is forbidden to take a photo.

Coffeeshops

When you say coffee and Amsterdam you remember also the coffeeshops. But you shouldn't confuse it with normal coffees. The Dutch laws allow the coffeeshops to sell maximum five grams of cannabis pro person.

Artis Zoo

For animal lovers it is a good destination. There you find the animals from all over the world.

It is open between 1 November-31 March from 09:00 till 17:00 and between 1 April-31 October from 09:00 till 18:00. Entrance fee is 18,95 euro. Strange price:)

To go there you can take the tram number 9 from central station till Plantage Kerklaan street.

That is all I can tell you about Amsterdam for now. I am sure there are many nice places I couldn't mention. Maybe the next time. I wish you a nice journey in Amsterdam...

Heidelberg: A city from the fairy tales

Heidelberg is considered as one of the most beautiful cities of Germany. That is valid for me as well. As soon as I entered the Old Town, I felt myself in a fairy tale.

The Bridge and the Gate

The Castle

"The Heidelberg Castle" or in German "Heidelberger Schloss" is the symbol of the city and it is world famous. It dates back to 1214. But this magnificent castle has a tragic history. During the centuries it was damaged many times by lightning, wars and fires.

Heidelberger Schloss

Lightning struck the castle

The castle is located on the Königstuhl hillside and to be able to go to the castle you should climb 80 meters up. By foot or by car! There you have a wonderful view of the city.

Heidelberg from the castle

The castle also impressed many poets, writers or artists...

The castle is open daily between 08:00 and 17:00. And the entrance fee is 3 euros. But when you visit the castle you don´t see just the yard. The ticket is valid also for the palaces and the German pharmacy museum.

The yard

The pharmacy museum

Inside the palace, there is some furniture from the old centuries to see.

The castle affects also the couples. So many people who are in love fall in love also with the city and decide to marry in the castle. Each year around 100 couples marry at the castle´s chapel.

It is possible also to organize some other festivities such as dinner or balls. And during the Heidelberg Castle Festival in summer, in the courtyard it is possible to see open air musicals, operas or theatre performances. It is held from 23rd June to 12th August. By the way your ticket for the castle is valid also to see the great vat. It is a huge wine barrel.

Huge wine barrel

Bergbahn

This is the old mountain railway which takes you to the castle. So it is a nice and different alternative to go up. It starts form the Kornmarkt station and goes to the Castle Station. And then it goes on to Molenkur Station. There the upper railway begins and you can reach the highest hills of the Königstuhl. You can take it daily between 09:00 and 20:30.

The oldest university

Heidelberg houses the oldest university of Germany. It was founded in 1386. I would like to be a student in those magnificent lecture rooms.

The students` prison

Maybe because of the old history of Heidelberg´s university, the city houses also one of the most interesting buildings of the Germany: The students´ prison.

In that former students` prison in Jesuit`s Church, the naughty students would spend a few nights prisoned.

It is located on Augustinergasse and open from 10:00 till 18:00. But between October and March it is open just till 16:00.

For those who wonder: This prison was closed in 1914.

Old Town (Altstadt)

If you are hungry or want to make shopping, you can visit the old town. The high number of the cafes and restaurants prove that it is a student city. It starts from the Bismarckplatz and it is a very long street. Don´t forget entering the side streets. There some surprises might be waiting for you as well. And most of the shops are open till 20:00 but not on Sundays.

The Bridge Gate

It is close to the Neckar River and it leads you to the Renaissance style old bridge. And don´t forget to take a photo with the Heidelberg monkey.You see it before you go on the bridge.

You can put your head in to the monkey´s head

The Neckar River

You can make a tour along the river. The boats leave from the Old Town. You can find some information about the boat tours here:

http://www.rnf-schifffahrt.de/

Info

That is the official web page of Heidelberg city. There you can find important information related to transportation or accommodation as well.

http://www.heidelberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1088101_l2/index1154524808141.html

North Sea - Cuxhaven

I had one of the most impressive holidays in North Sea. We stayed in Cuxhaven... It is one of the places about which one doesn't need to say so many things. Because just the photos are even enough to prove the beauty of the sea. But of course I will talk a little about it.

Walking in the sea

It is one of the places where you can walk, run or ride a vehicle in the sea. But first let's talk a little bit about accommodation.

Where to stay

There are of course hotels in the city. But staying in flats is very popular also. The people rent their flats. And there is bed, kitchen, kitchen tools, bath and everything that is available in a house. You can cook yourself if you want. Here are some links about the flats. You can check the prices.

http://www.ferienwohnung-cuxhaven.eu/
http://www.cuxhaven-privat.de/
http://www.hamer-cuxhaven.de/

You can search more by writing "Ferienwohnung". That means holiday flat.

And the good part is no matter if you stay at a hotel or in a flat, they give for each room such chairs (Strandkorb in German) to sit in. So you can protect yourselves from the wind. Yes it is very important not to forget about the wind! Even if we were there in July, the wind was unbelievably strong. So don't forget to bring your warm jackets or other warm clothes.

Sea

The sea in North Sea is very fascinating as I said before. You can swim of course when the sea level is high enough. But it is also nice to watch it or to walk on it.

People in the sea

Or to make a tour with a horse car. There are special companies for such a ride. It is better to book before.

Here is a website. You can check the tour times and the prices.

http://www.wattwagen-cux.de/

The tour to the island Neuwerk is the most popular. The tour is in total 4 hours. Ebb and flood is the key. When the sea level is so high of course there is no tour.

In Neuwerk Island

These are the horses which took us to the island. Moritz and Lustig. Lustig means funny in German. It was the female horse but was very lazy.

Lustig is on the right

Watt

When there is ebb and the water goes away, you see on the surface of the sea a mud like thing. It is called watt in German. The surface is very soft and it gives you a nice feeling to step on. But of course if you are not afraid of the worms. You see them everywhere on the sea surface. And I was a little bit afraid to walk on them.

Watt worms

Kugelbake

It is 30 meters high wooden tower in Cuxhaven. You can see it when you come back to Cuxhaven from the Neuwerk trip. The nicest part is to sit in front of the Kugelbake and watch the passing ships.

Helgoland

It is also an island that you can visit if you are in Cuxhaven. But you should take a ship to go. It is a little bit far.

Helgoland

A view from Helgoland

There is a also a small museum in the island.

The island is like a small sea town. But I guess one of the reasons why people visit there is the tax free shopping chance. You can buy parfumes, chocolates or some other things with a good price and tax free. But I liked the nature also.

And it is time to go back to Cuxhaven.

The ship is waiting for us

By the way you can send in the ship post to your friends. But what is interesting is that post is a bottle. There are special bottles in the ship. You can write your letter, put in the bottle and send it. It can be a nice memory. I sent one myself too:)

All in all I liked I liked my time in Cuxhaven. Of course Nort Sea is not just limited with Cuxhaven. There are many other nice places or islands in North Sea. But my choice was Cuxhaven.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask please...